WyomingOSUAlum
08-12-2010, 11:12 AM
http://www.newsok.com/osu-cowboys-expect-smooth-ride-after-switching-offenses/article/3484328?custom_click=pod_lead_sports
OSU Cowboys expect smooth ride after switching offenses
They were thrown off the last time when Mike Gundy made his first change. This time, the feeling is the Pokes are better prepared.
STILLWATER The last time Oklahoma State changed offenses, when Mike Gundy brought in Larry Fedora to direct his debut attack, resulted in a tumultuous time.
And a torturous time, considering Cowboys fans were forced to endure a ragged transition that resulted in the wrong definition of offensive and a 4-7 finish following three straight bowl years.
Here they go again.
Only this time, the switch figures to go much more smoothly. That's the hope anyway, after OSU's offense sputtered at last season's end, when the Cowboys were shut out by Oklahoma and beaten 21-7 in the Cotton Bowl by Ole Miss in consecutive games.
"It's a dream come true to be in this offense," said wide receiver Josh Cooper. "I came out of high school in this offense and I was dreaming it would get here. So I'm pretty excited."
Ditto for the rest of the Cowboys, as well as their fans, which wasn't necessarily the mood when Gundy replaced Les Miles and brought in Fedora to switch from the I-formation to the spread.
Behind the scenes, Fedora warned the transition could be rough. Those Cowboys were ill-equipped to replicate the wide-open attacks he'd been so successful with at Florida.
Back then, OSU was unsettled at quarterback and spun through Donovan Woods, Bobby Reid and Al Pena in one season that produced a combined 17 interceptions and 11 touchdowns. D'Juan Woods was the only reliable wideout in a system that featured three and four receivers. And the running game was pedestrian. Mike Hamilton, who would leave the program a year later when better backs were on board, finished as the leading rusher.
Despite the drawbacks, the Cowboys were committed to the change.
This switch is different on several fronts.
While there are subtle adjustments and new terminology to grasp, the Cowboys are moving from one version of the spread to another with Dana Holgorsen taking over as offensive coordinator. The no-huddle, a radical change in 2005, is nothing new for a team that hasn't huddled regularly since Miles roamed the sidelines.
"I think it is different, because we were making a huge change on offense (in '05)," Gundy said. "We were slow and would pound you and throw it over your head. So it was a really big change.
"There's some similarities now to what we did (last year), so it makes it easier. And our coaches are in place, the system is in place."
The biggest difference between now and then is talent, with a major upgrade evident across the board, allowing that new starting quarterback Brandon Weeden is as good as program insiders believe he'll be.
"We have some great athletes who can really make some plays with the ball in their hands," Weeden said. "And they keep bringing them in. These incoming freshmen have some skills."
If anything, this system sets up to be simpler, with the quarterback no longer constantly looking to the sideline for guidance, instead granted more freedom and responsibility. Weeden's job: take the shotgun snap and hit the open man.
"It's more like 7-on-7 or backyard football," Weeden said.
Holgorsen has some experience at smooth transitions, too.
Leaving Mike Leach's staff at Texas Tech for Houston, Holgorsen's first Cougars team ranked second in the nation in passing offense (401.6 yards per game) and total offense (562.8 yards per game). Houston averaged 42.2 points a contest.
"So far, it's been smooth here," Holgorsen said. "Until you actually put a product out there in a live setting, you never know what the result's going to be. But so far, it's been good."
OSU Cowboys expect smooth ride after switching offenses
They were thrown off the last time when Mike Gundy made his first change. This time, the feeling is the Pokes are better prepared.
STILLWATER The last time Oklahoma State changed offenses, when Mike Gundy brought in Larry Fedora to direct his debut attack, resulted in a tumultuous time.
And a torturous time, considering Cowboys fans were forced to endure a ragged transition that resulted in the wrong definition of offensive and a 4-7 finish following three straight bowl years.
Here they go again.
Only this time, the switch figures to go much more smoothly. That's the hope anyway, after OSU's offense sputtered at last season's end, when the Cowboys were shut out by Oklahoma and beaten 21-7 in the Cotton Bowl by Ole Miss in consecutive games.
"It's a dream come true to be in this offense," said wide receiver Josh Cooper. "I came out of high school in this offense and I was dreaming it would get here. So I'm pretty excited."
Ditto for the rest of the Cowboys, as well as their fans, which wasn't necessarily the mood when Gundy replaced Les Miles and brought in Fedora to switch from the I-formation to the spread.
Behind the scenes, Fedora warned the transition could be rough. Those Cowboys were ill-equipped to replicate the wide-open attacks he'd been so successful with at Florida.
Back then, OSU was unsettled at quarterback and spun through Donovan Woods, Bobby Reid and Al Pena in one season that produced a combined 17 interceptions and 11 touchdowns. D'Juan Woods was the only reliable wideout in a system that featured three and four receivers. And the running game was pedestrian. Mike Hamilton, who would leave the program a year later when better backs were on board, finished as the leading rusher.
Despite the drawbacks, the Cowboys were committed to the change.
This switch is different on several fronts.
While there are subtle adjustments and new terminology to grasp, the Cowboys are moving from one version of the spread to another with Dana Holgorsen taking over as offensive coordinator. The no-huddle, a radical change in 2005, is nothing new for a team that hasn't huddled regularly since Miles roamed the sidelines.
"I think it is different, because we were making a huge change on offense (in '05)," Gundy said. "We were slow and would pound you and throw it over your head. So it was a really big change.
"There's some similarities now to what we did (last year), so it makes it easier. And our coaches are in place, the system is in place."
The biggest difference between now and then is talent, with a major upgrade evident across the board, allowing that new starting quarterback Brandon Weeden is as good as program insiders believe he'll be.
"We have some great athletes who can really make some plays with the ball in their hands," Weeden said. "And they keep bringing them in. These incoming freshmen have some skills."
If anything, this system sets up to be simpler, with the quarterback no longer constantly looking to the sideline for guidance, instead granted more freedom and responsibility. Weeden's job: take the shotgun snap and hit the open man.
"It's more like 7-on-7 or backyard football," Weeden said.
Holgorsen has some experience at smooth transitions, too.
Leaving Mike Leach's staff at Texas Tech for Houston, Holgorsen's first Cougars team ranked second in the nation in passing offense (401.6 yards per game) and total offense (562.8 yards per game). Houston averaged 42.2 points a contest.
"So far, it's been smooth here," Holgorsen said. "Until you actually put a product out there in a live setting, you never know what the result's going to be. But so far, it's been good."